Who is known as the Napoleon of India?

Samudragupta, the second great emperor of the ancient Gupta Empire, is famously known as the Napoleon of India.

The title was given to him by the British historian A.V. Smith because of Samudragupta's incredible military conquests.

• Never Defeated: During his long reign (around 335–375 CE), Samudragupta fought numerous battles across the Indian subcontinent and was never defeated.
• Massive Empire: He expanded the Gupta Empire from the Himalayas in the north to the Narmada river in the south, and from the Brahmaputra river in the east to the Yamuna in the west.
• The Allahabad Pillar: We know about his massive victories because his court poet, Harishena, wrote a detailed account of his conquests (the Prayag Prashasti) on the famous Ashoka Pillar at Allahabad.

Unlike Napoleon, Samudragupta was not just a warrior. He was also a great patron of arts, music, and poetry. Several ancient gold coins have been found showing Samudragupta playing the Veena (an Indian stringed instrument).